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If you plan to travel on Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines' Freedom of the Seas, you might want to learn a bit about the ship itself, including its specifications, such as length and width, and how low it can ride in the water. You can also find out the ship's tonnage, the name of the insurance carrier, and even the ship's radio call sign.

Physical Specifications

Freedom of the Seas is 1111.5 feet long. At her widest, she's 126.6 feet wide; her deadweight tonnage (how much she can carry) is 10,600 tons, which takes her to her maximum draft, the lowest she can ride in the water: 28 feet.

Freedom of the Seas' gross register tonnage and tonnage under the International Tonnage Convention is 154,407 tonnes. (Deadweight tonnage is based on an old measurement of a vessel's carrying capacity. One tonne equals an open space of 10 feet by 10 feet by 10 feet.) Her radio call sign is C6UZ7 and her normal cruising speed is 21.6 knots (nautical miles per hour).

The ship's official number, issued by the International Maritime Organization, is 9304033. Freedom of the Seas is owned by Freedom of the Seas, Inc., a Bahamian corporation. The ship is registered in the Bahamas. She's managed by Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd., based in Monrovia, Liberia, with corporate headquarters in Miami.

Inspection and Insurance

Freedom of the Seas is inspected by Det Norske Veritas, the Norwegian classification society. Classification societies are organizations that provide data on ships, including their operating class, their specifications, and general operating data, to insurers and governments in an effort to promote safety at sea, the security of cargoes and the safe operation of ships.

The ship's insurance is provided by the UK P&I Club, a private maritime risk insurer.

Safety of Life at Sea

When British literary giant Samuel Johnson described sailing as "being in a jail, with the chance of being drowned," real ship safety was a century away.

Freedom of the Seas is "SOLAS-compliant," meaning that it's equipped with the latest electronics, including electronic navigation equipment, and the most current lifesaving gear, in accordance with the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS). Drills for the ship's crew and persons-in-addition-to-crew are conducted regularly.

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About the Author

Will Charpentier is a writer who specializes in boating and maritime subjects. A retired ship captain, Charpentier holds a doctorate in applied ocean science and engineering. He is also a certified marine technician and the author of a popular text on writing local history.

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